Your New Christmas Computer

[richc46]

For all the lucky members who will receive or buy a new computer for Christmas be sure to:

Dont install the antivirus software that pops up with instuctions to install
Should be done at the end and this software although probably free for a while
will cost money down the road and is probably not the best.

Windows updates should be done immediately as you are vulnerable to problems
until updated; be sure to include office updates

Adobe reader should be updated, the most recent version is a sandbox version which
reduces virus vulnerablity to your PDF files.

This is also the oppotunity to download Adobe Flash Player

Download an alertative browser; ie FF or Chrome etc. In the event of problems with IE

Remove any unwanted program bloat. They will slow up your computer and probably
cost money in the future.

Download your antivirus; Microsoft Security Essentials is suggested.

Now enjoy the internet.

In addition follow these maintenance instructions.

http://www.sevenforums.com/performa...uggestions-proper-maintenance.html#post764471

 

[indianacarnie]

good advice!
mse is good but i personally recommend avast free. but thats a matter of choice.

 

[PooMan UK]

Nice info Richard ...

Can I add one thing, if you have a new PC for Chrimbo .... don't forget to create the manufacturers system recovery discs, as most new systems don't come with them supplied and not all units have a recovery partition that is usable.
I've lost count at how many peeps units that need re-installing and when I ask for the recovery discs .... I get a blank look :shock:

 

[richc46]

Thanks Nick. Actually a great suggestion. Which I am now including in my Vista Post

 

[indianacarnie]

i agree , great advice.

 

[richc46]

Thanks for the nice comments

 

[Backnblack]

Best thing to do is format the HD and do a clean install that is bloatware free.

 

[StalkeR]

Nice suggestion richc46

 

[gregrocker]

PC makers have stopped providing OS Installation DVD's so that they can enforce sponsored bloatware which provides much of their profit margin today.

For this reason many tech enthusiasts find a Win7 Installation DVD to clean reinstall with the Product Key on COA sticker.

This reinstall is actually better than getting a new computer!

Here are tips to get a perfect reinstall, based on hundreds done here: http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/125874-re-install-windows-7-a.html#post1086729

Until then, here are tips for cleaning up a factory bloatware install: http://www.sevenforums.com/installa...p-all-four-primary-partitions.html#post952573

 

[Maxxwire]

Here are tips to get a perfect reinstall, based on hundreds done here:

And after that perfect reinstall its a good idea to make a Windows System Image on a remote drive for safe keeping. I also like keeping a current Macrium Reflect Image so that I'm never more than 5 minutes away from a clean image restore that is ready to roll with all my current programs and settings.

~Maxx~

 

[andsome]

Whatever Anti Virus program you fancy should be available on a memory stick to install immediately the operating system is installed. Personally, I would NEVER buy a commercial computer together with all the pre installed crap that is automatically installed. I have always used one of two small local computer builders, and have only the operating system installed, with NO freeware crap and trials for this and trials for that. I always insist on receiving a FULL installation disc, rather than a recovery disc. I also have a 1TB plug in hard drive, and immediately after install I save an ACRONIS mirror image, and after that I save regular updates to this image. In fact, have all your software choices available on a memory stick, and only go to Windows Update AFTER all security has been installed.

 

[Maxxwire]

Personally, I would NEVER buy a commercial computer together with all the pre installed crap that is automatically installed.

If you happen get a commercially built computer like most people do there's Revo Uninstaller x64 software that removes even the nastiest most embedded crap-ware programs along with all of their files and Registry values.

~Maxx~

 

[andsome]

Personally, I would NEVER buy a commercial computer together with all the pre installed crap that is automatically installed.

If you happen get a commercially built computer like most people do there's Revo Uninstaller x64 software that removes even the nastiest most embedded crap-ware programs along with all of their files and Registry values.

~Maxx~

The problem is that you should NOT need to do this. Also, I think it is criminal to offer computers without a full installation disc. I still suggest contacting a local shop. If anything goes wrong you have support immediately available, with no waiting on premium rate so called support phone lines. Remember that you have paid for all the so called FREE crap. It is all included in their costings.

 

[Maxxwire]

Remember that you have paid for all the so called FREE crap. It is all included in their costings.

Quite to the contrary because the 'free crap' which was bundled with my Win 7 x64 HP HPE Intel core i7 930 8GB DDR3 RAM computer that was very easily and completely removed with Revo Uninstaller and never dealt with again I was able to get the computer at a bargain price because the computer maker was very well paid to put that 'free crap' on the computer so well paid in fact that some experts have said that the fee for putting that 'free crap' on the computer comprises the computer maker's entire profit margin which would mean that 'free crap' got me a steep discount on my new computer because without the computer maker's sizable income from putting the 'free crap' on the computer to offset the price it would have cost a whole lot more!

~Maxx~
.

 

[beastmaster]

good advice!
mse is good but i personally recommend avast free. but thats a matter of choice.

second that

 

[andsome]

Remember that you have paid for all the so called FREE crap. It is all included in their costings.

Quite to the contrary because the 'free crap' which was bundled with my Win 7 x64 HP HPE Intel core i7 930 8GB DDR3 RAM computer that was very easily and completely removed with Revo Uninstaller and never dealt with again I was able to get the computer at a bargain price because the computer maker was very well paid to put that 'free crap' on the computer so well paid in fact that some experts have said that the fee for putting that 'free crap' on the computer comprises the computer maker's entire profit margin which would mean that 'free crap' got me a steep discount on my new computer because without the computer maker's sizable income from putting the 'free crap' on the computer to offset the price it would have cost a whole lot more!

~Maxx~
.

There is still the point about no installation disc, and also after sales service. I have heard some horrifying tales of costs run up on premium rate help lines. Much better to have someone local who you can call on. My last computer was delivered and set up for me within three days, complete with installation disc.

 

[Maxxwire]

Much better to have someone local who you can call on. My last computer was delivered and set up for me within three days, complete with installation disc.

I always get far better help here on the Windows 7 Forums than I ever have from HP support! For re-imaging my computer I have over a dozen different 7 GB Windows 7 partition images all of which have been de-crapified from the original Win 7 Image that was loaded onto the computer and the and the Win 7 Image from the recovery partition which are surprisingly different from each other and I use a top notch British software to restore whichever image I choose in only 5 minutes.

~Maxx~

 

[gregrocker]

Again, the makers no longer provide a clean Installation DVD because they are enforcing the bloatware after their sponsors complained that they were making it too easy to clean reinstall without ever starting up to the welcoming arms of Norton trial, Office trial, Roxio mess, etc.

And yes if they didn't include it we would probably pay a lot more for consumer PC's, as businesses do to not be bothered.

By the time you've learned to clean up a factory bloatware install or clean reinstall to get an install actually better than a new computer, you'll be tech savvy enough to be able to do it for your friends or help out others here. It's a great learning experience.

Don't settle for Win7 which is any less than feather-light and instantaneous.

 

[whs]

Dont install the antivirus software that pops up with instuctions to install
Should be done at the end and this software although probably free for a while
will cost money down the road and is probably not the best.

If it is Norton, I keep it. I still have a 285 day key for 3 systems. I love NIS2011 - serves me a lot better than MSE (which I have on the Vistas)

Adobe reader should be updated, the most recent version is a sandbox version which
reduces virus vulnerablity to your PDF files.

That bugger is the first one I uninstall and replace it with Foxit. Adobe PDF Reader is the prototype of bloatware.

 

[Maxxwire]

Greg- Yes! And after the factory bloatware is removed an Image can be made of it and the bloatware will never have to be dealt with again. I remove the bloatware simply for housekeeping reasons in that I prefer to run a tidy 16.5 GB Windows 7 partition although I have never understood how having additional unused software installed can actually slow a computer down at the same time keeping a full set of services many of which are unneeded yet do run from time to time to collect data, etc. are said by many to have absolutely no impact on computer performance in Win 7.

~Maxx~